Improvement in joints of skirt-hoops



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

THEODORE D. DAY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN JOINTS OF SKlRT-HOPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 49,732, dated September 5, 1865.

To all 'whom fit may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORE D. DAY, of the city and State of New York, have invented, made, and applied to use acertain new and useful Improvement in Ladies7 Skeleton Skirts; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making part of this specification, wherein- Figure is a view of my improved clasp for skirts as seen on the back or inner side. Fig. 2 shows the clasp together,without the hoop in it. Fig. 3 shows a section ofthe clasp and ends of the hoop. Fig. 4 shows the parts of the clasp before being puttogether; and Fig. 5 shows the forni in which the sheet metal is cut out for making said clasps. All the Iigures except the trst are about twice the measnreinent ofthe actual article, and similar letters refer to likeparts.

In the manufacture of hoop-skirts there have been several where the hoops have beenjointed or hinged together, so as to allow the skirt to fold or press into a smaller compass when the person sits down. An invention of this nature is set forth in Letters Patent granted to me December 13, A. D. 1364.

The nature of my presentinvention consists in an improved sheet-metaljointthat will move in any direction but one, and the joint is applied to the skirt so that it will told inward or move sidewise, but will not fold outward. Hence I am able to prevent the skirt folding outward, which sometimes is the case with jointed skirts, much to the annoyance of the wearer; and when in use the hoops will not V clasp is formed, are cutout in the form shown in Fig. 5, the piece a having a hole through one end. These are then pressed up by dies, so that the` piece a is trough-shaped, with a hanged ring, l, at the end, and the piece b is also trou gh-shaped, with a circular half-flan ged end,2, of a size to sit within the ring 1, as represented in Figs. 1,2, and 3. Upon the edges of the trough-shaped portions of a. and b teeth 3 3 are formed, which are bent over and pressed upon the ends of' the hoops, as seen in Figs. 1 and 3, to retain them rmly in the respectiv parts of the clasp.

In the form thusfar described the clasp will move in all directions but onethat is to sar, the flanged end 2` will turn within the flanged ring l, so as to allow the hoops c to move up or down, and the end of b inayturn within the eye of a., so that it will allow thejoint to fold inward; but it cannot fold or turn outward, because the hanged end of b sits within the flanged ring at the end of a.

In order to prevent the end b sliding through the ring at the end of a when the joint is folded inward, I provide wings 4L 4, which are folded buckiat, as seen in Fig. 2. After the end b has been passed through the eye said wings, coniing against the side of the eye 1 opposite to the flanges, prevent the portion b ot the clasp sliding endwise into said eye. Hence the clasp is always in position, so that when the person rises the skirt will fall to its proper position.

This clasp is strong, cheaply made, and smooth, so as not to injure the garments of the person wearing a hoop-skirt with such clasps; and these clasps can be applied to the hoops so as to form joints in them either at the front part, the back part, or at the sides, or at more than one of these places.

What l claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A clasp for the hoops of skirts, formed substantially as specified, so that it will fold inward or turn, but will not fold outward,as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my signature this 19th day of June, A. D. 1865.

THEO. D. DAY.

Witnesses LEMUEL W. SEERELL, Unas. H. Satira. 

